Improvement in locks and latches



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM S. KIRKI-IAM, OF BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS AND LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 23,254,Vdated March 15, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. KIRKHAM, of Branford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement i n Locks and Latches for Doors; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the anneXed drawings, making a part of this -speciflcation, in which- Figure l is a side view of my invention with a portion of the casing removed; Fig. 2, an end view of same; Fig. 3, a top View of same applied to a door and having the top plate of the casing removed.

Similar letters ot reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in constructing and arranging the bolt of the latch or lock, and also the nosing or keeper, in a peculiar manner, as hereinafter fully shown and described, whereby the lock orlatch is rendered capable of being applied in proper position to either a right or left hand door, as may be desired.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the case of a lock, which case may be of rectangular form and having each side made precisely similar, so that either will present a finished exterior and permit either side to be attached to the door, as oecasion may require.

B is a slide within the case A, against which slide the bits a on the knobarbor h act and operate said slide. The outer end of this slide has the latch or bolt C connected to it by a pivot c. The latch or bolt C has a rounded and an inclined outer edge, as shown at d, and it is formed at the end of an elbowshaped bar c, the lower end of which is secured by a pivot f within the case A, said pivot serving as a center for the bolt to Work on, the inclined portion projecting through an opening in the end of the case, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 3. The slide B has a spring g bearing against it, said spring having a tendency to keep the inclined part d of the bolt out of the case. This will be clearly understood by referring to Fig. l.

D represents the nosing or keeper which receives the outer part CZ of the bolt or latch C. This nosing or keeper is of the usual form with the addition of a double inclined fia-nge E, formed-on it at right angles with its outer or face side and its edge which adjoins the casing of the lock when the door is closed. (See Fig. 3.) This flange E gradually inclines outward from the ends of the nosing or keeper toward its center, which is the Inost prominent portion of the ange, as shown at 71, said part h always being below the outer part d of the latch or bolt.

The flange E and nosing D may both be cast in one piece.

The casing A having both its sides iinished to present a suitable exterior, may, as previously alluded to, have either side secured to the door. The part d closes or is made to pass within the nosing or keeper D as the door is closed in consequence of the inclined or vertically oblique form of the part d of the latch or bolt C striking against the upper inclined portion of the flange E, and as this iiange has a double inclined surface the nosing is permitted to be inserted or used either end upward and attached to the stile of a right or left hand door casing or frame. The lock also in consequence of having its bolt or latch C constructed or arranged as shown is permitted to be used on either a right or left hand door, as the reversing the position of the lock does not aect in any way the 0peration of the bolt or latch, as it is inclined or beveled in a vertical plane and not in a horizontal one as usual.

Ordinary latches it will be understood cannot be applied to doors swinging in either direction without in one case inverting the lock-that is to say, turning its upper side down-thereby having it in -a position that requires the knob and key to be turned in a reverse position when considered relatively with the operator, and frequently causing considerable embarrassment in locking and unlocking the door.

The within-described invention. may be used for all door locks and latches. Any of the tumbler-locks may be used, as the bolt that is operated by the key has no connection with the bolt or latch C. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim :as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the nosing D, provided with the double inclined flange E, with the bolt or latch C, having its outer end rounded and beveled in a. vertical plane to operate as and for the purpose set forth. p

WM. S. KIRKHAM.

Vtnesses:

JNO. J. BARTHOLOMEW, LEVI S. PARSONS. 

